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Charming Billy and a contest

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Do you remember the song...."Billy Boy"? You can hear a lovely, very cleaned up version here. Wait though....a quick warning! If you listen you will be singing and humming it all day. Better to listen at night and then quickly go to bed. Hopefully you won't remember a thing in the morning.A much more fun version is here.Why all hoopla about a song?Below is the answer.

Out in the country, we get "cast off" pets. The ones that don't work out well for other people. They drive their pets out to the country and drop their dog or cat to "live off the land" so to speak. We have 4 cats...one male who was dropped off in the dead of winter about 7 years ago, two feral male kittens found in our hedge row during a 4th of July party 10 years ago and this one pictured above who showed up last winter starving. Dave (my husband) named this one Henrietta. He worked hard getting her to tolerate him sitting near while she ate. Then one morning he came in and told me she was really a he and changed his name to Henry. So we have 4 male cats....it can get pretty hostile around here.

Every now and again Henry doesn't show up for dinner or breakfast. I wonder if he is ok....or has been hit by a car. But then in a day or two, he's back meowing for food. As I took out his food this song came to mind....

Oh, where have you been,Billy Boy, Billy Boy?Oh, where have you been,Charming Billy?I have been to seek a wife,She's the idol of my life.She's a young thing,And cannot leave her mother.

I went back inside and told Dave, "I'm afraid Henry needs to be called Charming Billy and we better take him to the vet and get him fixed!" (And by "we" I really mean Dave.) Henry's still pretty skittish though....My husband doesn't think he could pick him up for long. But Henry better go before there are more cats to feed.

Barb and I are taking a "working" vacation this next week. We are going to Gulf Shores, Alabama. We will get up early look at the beach and quilt or stitch the morning away. In the afternoon we are out in the sun....and then back to work in the evening. My skin will look like a leather suitcase when I return home! (I can hardly wait!!!) We will report this next week from the beach. Pictures and fun info. from Barb to follow soon.

Meantime....another contest.respond in the comment section with the word quilt or cross stitch...Deadline: Entry must be dated no later than the 5thWill notify winners by Sunday the 7th

5 winners for this prize...

If you write "quilt" in the comment section and you win, you can have your pick of one of our quilt books published by the Kansas City Star.If you write "cross stitch" in the comment section and you win, you can have 1 each of the retired loose feathers from our first year (2003) 6 patterns in all.If you write "cat" in the comment section you will automatically win 4 Tom cats! I will personally drive them to your house!

Cross Stitch and Cat. Seriously if I lived within driving distance I would totally help rescue abandoned kitties or doggies or whatever. Don't laugh :) I once rescued a snapping turtle. I live in the country and know exactly what you are talking about. That is really great of you to help those cats.

I would say CAT but there isn't a road to Scotland so you can't drive one over...so I had better say QUILT. I am eying off that gorgeous baske quilt!!!! Thanks and I will start praying to win. I love all of the designs!!! Thanks, xxxRobby

Stitch please! I am so tempted to write the feline word - but I don't think it would go down very well with our spoiled rotten male named Freddie - so I will have to pass on that one!It did make me smile though, to imagine you trying to drive four misbehaving male cats around1

Cats? Maybe not this time... 4 cats in 4 rooms? maybe it is possible, but there shall I cross stitch or make my first quilt? I do not know, which one of this two to choose. I cross stich with longer ir shorter breakes more than 20 years. And I want to try quilting... So choose for me, if I'll be lucky...Thank you for your contest and have nice and creative vacations

Cross stitch still is my favourite word, altough I would like you to drive by to deliver the other 4 furry things, but I hihgly doubt my Irish Wolfhound would tolorate them. Have fun at the beach!!miranda

I love the Charming Billy song! :D I would like to write "Cat" here but (1) my husband might actually leave me if I did, and (2) it's not possible to drive here from there. LOL. So I will write "Cross stitch" and keep my fingers crossed (when I'm not stitching, that is!).

And...maybe you have a cat that likes you better than their owner? We had a cat once that would disappear for long stretches, then one day we picked him up off our front lawn while our neighbour from down the street was walking by - he said, oh! is that your cat? I thought he was homeless!! Turns out the neighbour was "sharing" our cat.

I am just starting on your basket quilt with Barbara in Sweden's webring... I absolutely love all the designs you do, and need to start buying up all your books to come live with me in Ireland! I'd write cat in here just to get a visit from you but don't think it will be easy to drive to Ireland! Thanks for all the wonderful inspiration, you seem to be living the ideal crafty life there, making a living from something you love to do...hope I can do that too someday, when my 4 and 6 year old grow up a bit more :)

I live out in the country, too, and we get just loads of animals dumped (such a shame!). All of our outdoor kitties were castoffs, as well as a black lab who we gifted to a friend who had three boys....

I'm torn between the cross stitch and the quilts, but in the end, since I already have quite a few of your cross stitch patterns and NO QUILT patterns/books, I would choose the quilt book. Please pick me!!!

I do love cross-stitch and have always wanted to learn quilting - so, since I have the Loose Feathers patterns already - I go with Quilts! (I'd say cat - one for each of my three boys, but my dear husband wouldn't go for it!)

Oh my gosh Alma...every time I read your blog I am so very happy....just starts my day with smiles and a warm heart. I would love to receive your OOP Loose Feathers cross stitch patterns. The cats are a close second though! Have a wonderful and productive vacation!! Hugs

Would have to be "Cross Stitch" for me, though if you have any of your fabrics to give away, I'd rather say "Fabric" as my collection isn't complete! ;-) Can't wait to see the next new releases on both cross stitch & your fabrics!

We also live in the country and have drop off animals. I have taken many in or feed them. I just can't let an animal starve. The cats I feed but two dogs I've taken in with my own and always get them fixed. They have been good pets and when they have past on they got their own QUILT to go with themPattiO odonnell@cimtel.net

Cross stitch is my thing. And please NO cats. :) There are way too many in my neighborhood now. As well as one in my house. :) Along with a number of cross stitched cat and dog pieces. I would love to be able to win some of your older patterns. ThanksKathykatkiley@aol.com

Well since I have a lot of your quilt books (except for the first ones that are out of print) I will try cross stitch! I just started the beautiful quilt in your last book! Thanks for all the beautiful pieces.

Wow! 170 comments already!! I would love to win either...but since I've just gotten back into cross-stitching...cross stitch it is!! Thanks for the tune...it came to mind without listening now it's running thru my head! lol

About Us

Blackbird Designs is 17 years old this year. Barb Adams and Alma Allen began this company in 1999 to share our love of color, pattern and fiber. Our books and patterns are available at your local quilt and cross stitch shops. Blackbird Designs also has a line of fabric with Moda. Our fabric may be found at your local quilt shop. Join us here on our blog for our latest bird-brained ideas.